BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 pricing confirmed
Chinese automotive juggernaut BYD has hit Australia with another bombshell cut-price electric model, that’s sure to give motorists and competitors plenty to think about.
Chinese automotive juggernaut BYD has hit Australia with another bombshell cut-price electric model.
The BYD Atto 1 city electric car has been confirmed to hit our shores with a startlingly low price tag of just $23,990 plus on-roads - about $26,000 drive-away. That’s for the base model version with a smaller battery and less power.
The top-spec model is just $27,990 plus on-roads - about $30,000 drive-away - a price that undercuts some petrol and hybrid small cars that it competes against.
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It’s the cheapest EV ever offered for sale in Australia.
Currently, the cheapest petrol car on the market is the MG 3, which is seeing promotional deals being done on the base model Vibe for $21,888 drive-away.
The Kia Picanto is another option in that sort of price bracket, with the base model S with a five-speed manual gearbox listing at about $22,140 drive-away in Sydney. But there are deals to be had out there in the showrooms!
As for hybrids?
The mildly-electrified Suzuki Swift Hybrid manual starts at $24,990 drive-away ($3000 more for the auto), while a Toyota Yaris kicks off from $28,990 plus on-roads (about $32,800 drive-away).
So, the BYD Atto 1 isn’t the cheapest new car on sale - but the high-spec Premium version is cheaper than the base model (and it feels very basic) Toyota Yaris.
Standard spec for the Atto 1 grades includes 11kW AC charging for fast charging at home (three-phase required), Over-The-Air (OTA) remote updates for the software, vehicle to load (V2L) capability (meaning you can charge appliances using the car’s battery), and 4G connectivity and cloud services with a free two-year data plan on the high-spec model.
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Other spec highlights include LED lighting, keyless entry, electric front seat adjustment and heating, fake leather trim, wireless phone charging, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.
It doesn’t miss when it comes to safety spec either, with six airbags, a 360-degree camera, the full suite of active safety tech, and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The battle for the increasing share of Australa’s EV market has become one of local motoring’s most competitive markets.
The likes of BYD are putting increasing pressure on EV market leader Tesla, whose share price has slumped by more than 10 per cent since the start of November.
According to the brand, these models “redefine affordability for electric vehicles, but also mark one of the first times electric vehicles have reached true price parity”.
BYD Australia chief operating officer, Stephen Collins, said: “The Atto 1 and Atto 2 represent the next step in BYD’s vision for accessible, premium electric mobility for Australian drivers. Each model reflects our commitment to combining technology, design, and efficiency, tailored for local drivers and conditions, reflecting BYD’s commitment to making EV ownership attainable for all Australians.”
The Atto 2 - another benchmark reset moment for the EV landscape in Australia - offers a fully electric small SUV that doesn’t skimp on standard tech.
It starts at $31,990 plus on-roads for the base model (almost as cheap as the now-10-year-old Mazda CX-3!) for the base model, and tops out at $35,990 plus on-roads for the more highly-specified version.
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Unlike the Atto 1, the Atto 2 has the same battery offered in both grades, but there are some differentiators when it comes to standard inclusions between the two grades.
The high-spec has heated and ventilated front seats with electric adjustment and fake leather trim, among other highlights.
BYD has previously claimed the WLTP figures are more representative of mixed driving situations, while they’ve seen closer to 500km of EV range for the Atto 1 Premium in city-based driving situations – as will be the environs for most of these little EVs.
More details and full reviews are coming soon. Stay tuned.
Originally published as BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 pricing confirmed
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